A long lost gem from 1979, GOING IN STYLE is a funny, touching story with an amazing cast. It features a brilliant performance by George Burns that resonates with you long after his final wink to the camera.
Burns plays Joe, living with his two friends Al (Art Carney) and Willie (Lee Strasberg) in a cramped Bronx apartment.
The opening scenes are hilarious, depicting a life the three have settled far too deeply into. How many days can you sit on a bench in the park?
Joe is the first to voice his boredom. Burns' deadpan "Too much excitement for one day" hits the mark.
Strapped for cash and waiting for their monthly checks, Joe comes up with the idea to rob a bank.
It's a great plan. Who would suspect them?
Burns' Joe is obsessed with the heist. Al thinks he's joking and Willie wants nothing to do with it.
Writer/ Director Martin Brest (Beverly Hills Cop, Midnight Run, Meet Joe Black) was only 27 when he created the film and he surprises with a script that never steps into predictability. It's clever, funny and packed with powerful drama as well. It's a balance that's difficult to find, but Brest lands it perfectly. When Burns met Brest for the first time, he famously said "I have neckties older than you."
Watching these three pros in their sixties (Carney), late seventies (Strasberg) and eighties (Burns) create gripping characters is a joy. If you're expecting sitcom level comedy bits, you're in for a surprise.
The heist is a laugh out loud blast, wound taut with suspense and the aftermath is a roller coaster of emotions. Watching George Burns' Joe at a Vegas crap table is like a master class in acting. When Joe says he "played a little of this game in the army", it's like Picasso saying he might have picked up a brush or two in his day. All of the dialogue in the craps table scenes was improvised. Carney and Burns are clearly generational pros at doing so.
I really enjoyed the film in its original run in theaters, but hadn't seen it in 45 years. It has aged beautifully. It's kind of refreshing to see New York City and its boroughs in a pre smartphone, 24-hour news channel glory.
Michael Small (Marathon Man, The Parallax View) creates a perfect music score to accompany our trio on their adventures.
The film was a big hit in 1979, taking Warner Bros. featured holiday release spot after Kubrick's post production on "The Shining" ran long and bumped that film to the Summer of 1980. GOING IN STYLE grossed nearly $28 million against a $5m budget.
If you haven't seen this gem in a while, do yourself a favor and look up Joe, Al and Willie. They effortlessly steal an A.
Apparently remade in 2017 with Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin. As much as I admire those three, I never watched their version. Why bother when the original is a true classic?
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